Rick Nelson: From teen idol to immortal legend
The celestial trajectory of actor-singer Rick Nelson’s career was one of pop culture’s greatest, tinsel-draped, star-crossed tragedies. Growing up on his parent’s network television show “The Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet,” Nelson was publicly transformed from bashful cathode-ray boy next door to a rock ‘n’ roll sensation, one whose good looks, ingenuous charm and sweet, hot vocal style propelled him to international stardom.
The late singer not only managed to survive teen idol status with his dignity intact, he memorably shed the limiting mantle with 1972 Top 10 hit “Garden Party,” an artful repudiation of fan-imposed restriction typical of Nelson’s considerable natural grace. His sudden death in a plane crash on New Year’s Eve 1985 was a tragic finale that elevated him to the realm of rock ‘n’ roll immortality, and his musical legacy will be honored at a special 75th birthday tribute show at Burbank’s Pickwick Gardens on Saturday.
The line-up of performers includes two other actor singers, Barry Livingston and Bill Mumy, who grew up not just grooving along to Nelson’s records but also worked alongside him on “The Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet.”
“I was a recurring character, Barry the kid who lived down the street, on 14 or 15 episodes.” Livingston said. “My brother Stan had been on the show before me and when he left to play Chip on ‘My Three Sons’ I slid into his spot. There was a real family feel with everyone there, cast and crew alike.”
“I always focused on music, loved rock ‘n’ roll — Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis, Little Richard — that was very exciting to me and the most fun I had on the show was the sock hop and dances or whatever Ozzie could concoct to work in Ricky’s latest record,” Livingston, who also played Ernie on “My Three Sons,” said. “It was a real party atmosphere on the set, with great songs like ‘Travelin’ Man,’ ‘Hello Mary Lou,’ the list goes on. Ozzie was like the original MTV — they were like music videos.”
Mumy, who appeared on three episodes of “Ozzie & Harriet” and later went on to an extensive career in rock ‘n’ roll, enjoyed an equally positive experience with the Nelsons. “Ricky was a huge influence on me,” Mumy said. “One of the first records I bought with my own money was a Ricky Nelson Imperial album. I was about 10 at the time, and even though he was lip-syncing, it was so cool to watch him and [guitarist] James Burton doing the songs. It made a huge impression on me and I started playing the guitar, really because of seeing Rick and James Burton.”
“Rick was just what you saw on the show, really quiet, ridiculously handsome, and who couldn’t dig that voice? I am a huge fan, never get tired of his music. And all those songs still hold up so well,” Mumy said. “I followed his career, bought all his records. I used to go see him at the Palomino and even submitted a few songs to him, right at the end.”
Saturday’s tribute features several artists also linked to Nelson; singer-emcee Ronnie Mack (whose earliest local appearances were at the Palomino, singing an all-Nelson set circa 1977); longtime member of Nelson’s Stone Canyon band John Davis; R&B stalwart Billy Vera (the Grammy winner who also wrote Nelson’s 1965 “Mean Old World”)’ honky tonk idol James Intveld (whose brother drummed for Nelson and was lost in that same 1985 accident); along with producer-guitarist Pete Anderson, rockabilly firebrand Rosie Flores and several more local acolytes, along with preshow screenings of rare Nelson concert footage and select film and TV shows.
The family feel still holds strong. “I am really looking forward to this gig,” Mumy said. “Barry Livingston is an old friend of mine — we’ve known each other since he was about 6! It’ll definitely be a lot of fun.”
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What: Ronnie Mack’s 75th Birthday Salute to Rick Nelson with James Intveld, Bill Mumy, Barry Livingston, Billy Vera, Rosie Flores, Pete Anderson, more.
Where: Pickwick Garden’s Pavilion Room, 1001 W. Riverside Dr., Burbank
When: Saturday, May 9, 7 p.m.
Cost: $12
More info: (818) 845-5300. www.pickwickgardensconferencecenter.com
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JONNY WHITESIDE is a veteran music journalist based in Burbank and author of “Ramblin’ Rose: the Life & Career of Rose Maddox” and “Cry: the Johnnie Ray Story.”